Merging different versions of *same format*

[SteveG23]

I suspect this just can't be done in Calibre -
I sometimes have more than one .epub verion of the same book - e.g., one with illustrations and one without, one that is more complete but another with a better table of contents, better proofread, etc. I'd like to be able to merge the .epub versions into one record without deleting one of them, but can't find a way. This would especially be useful if one of them is several MB in size and the other slimmed down, and I want only the smaller one on a particular device where space is an issue. Renaming one of them doesn't do it. Saving one of them in .epub only, and the other in (say) .mobi only, would be a clumsy workaround. Keeping them as separate records isn't horrible, but makes it harder to tell if I have accidentally kept actual duplicates. Am I overlooking an option?

[Karellen]

Save them in the Data folder for that library record.

[SteveG23]

Originally Posted by Karellen

Save them in the Data folder for that library record.

You mean to relocate them separately, by File Explorer or the like? Other than that, I know of no way to "save them" in an already existing folder. I can certainly do that, but then they don't show up in the Library listing - they become essentially invisible.

[Comfy.n]

See this thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=358636

How to Use and Manage Data Files
Instead of manually digging through your computer's file system, Calibre provides a dedicated tool to manage this folder directly.

Select the book in your Calibre library.
Click the Edit metadata button's drop-down arrow and choose Manage data files.
In the pop-up window, you can view, add, or delete associated files (e.g., PNG, Word docs).

[BetterRed]

You can Merge by drag-n-drop, i.e. drag Book A on to Book B, you can also turn it off:



BR

[SteveG23]

Originally Posted by Comfy.n

In the pop-up window, you can view, add, or delete associated files (e.g., PNG, Word docs).

Right, other file formats, "e.g., PNG, Word docs" - not more than one of any given file format, such as different .epub versions. That's what I was asking about.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by SteveG23

Right, other file formats, "e.g., PNG, Word docs" - not more than one of any given file format, such as different .epub versions. That's what I was asking about.

We're talking about Data folder, not the Edit Metadata window. You can save as many files and formats in the Data folder as you want. I save the original epubs in the Data folder, as I edit the epubs in my library. I assigned a keyboard shortcut to accessing the Data folder, for convenience.

[Comfy.n]

see:

[sgmoore]

Originally Posted by SteveG23

Keeping them as separate records isn't horrible, but makes it harder to tell if I have accidentally kept actual duplicates.

I keep them as separate records but amend the title of at least one of them so I know they are accidental and also so I can tell which is which without needing to opening the book.

For example

The Canterbury Tales (Old English Version)
The Canterbury Tales (Modern English Version)

Around the World in 80 Days
Around the World in 80 Days (Illustrated)

[SteveG23]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

You can Merge by drag-n-drop, i.e. drag Book A on to Book B, you can also turn it off:

Thanks, but that's not the issue. I always use drag and drop. The issue is combining different versions of the *same file format* into one book record. If you try to do that, it tells you the book already exists and asks which one you want to keep. "Select all" is shown as a button, but it only actually shows you the one already in the Calibre library to select. If you select to add all, they come in as different book records - and you can't merge the records without deleting one of them.

[SteveG23]

Replying to sgmoore:

That's what I've had to do so far. I thought it would be better organization, and make for a shorter index, to group all of *one title* together, but I guess most people don't see that as a need. Thanks.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by SteveG23

Thanks, but that's not the issue. I always use drag and drop. The issue is combining different versions of the *same file format* into one book record. If you try to do that, it tells you the book already exists and asks which one you want to keep. "Select all" is shown as a button, but it only actually shows you the one already in the Calibre library to select. If you select to add all, they come in as different book records - and you can't merge the records without deleting one of them.

Data files is your answer. You can save as many files of the same format as you want there. Right-click Edit Metadata and select Manage data files.

[SteveG23]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Data files is your answer. You can save as many files of the same format as you want there. Right-click Edit Metadata and select Manage data files.

As far as I can tell, that's exactly the same as simply copying them there in File Explorer. Right? The added versions do not show up in the Calibre index. I addressed that in response to Karellen, early in this thread.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by SteveG23

As far as I can tell, that's exactly the same as simply copying them there in File Explorer. Right? The added versions do not show up in the Calibre index. I addressed that in response to Karellen, early in this thread.

No, it isn't. True, they don't show up in the library view, but you can create a custom column or a saved search or a virtual library displaying the books with data files present, and you can access those files with a keyboard shortcut.